England coach Roy Hodgson had no doubts about selecting Andy Carroll for his latest squad.

Hodgson knows Carroll's future at Liverpool is clouded, but was assured after speaking with manager Brendan Rodgers and skipper Steven Gerrard.

Hodgson explained: "I checked Andy out with both Brendan and Steven, because I realise there is a situation there.

"They were happy with Andy in training and the way he is going about his business.

"We have to accept that a lot of our front players aren't first choices at their clubs and the same has been the case for Jermain Defoe and Theo Walcott in the past.

"We also have to accept that there are a lot of foreign centre-forwards at the big clubs in the Premier League, so it's not easy for our boys sometimes.

''But Andy Carroll did well for us when he played in the Euros and I have no worries putting him in this squad."